Earth boring apparatus



March 28, 1933. J. F. MELLOR EARTH BORING APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1927 Z'Sheets-Sheet l gmgm 2 Sheets-Sheet J. F. MELLOR EARTH BQRING APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1927 .v H o WI/III *\\n w j r\ t m 8 nu m .lo M Il: !...ll 3 ...Z/ WL 7 0 M//W r0 o- Z m rd /KW// Z 7- Z 1,/ n n m'lll l l I l l V L ,A l v 0 n0 /0 4f M /0 Z Z ZW March 28, 1933- Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES JAMES F. MELLOR, OF EL DORADO, ARKANSAS EARTH BORING APPARATUS Application filed April 2, 1927.

The particular or special object I have had in mind in making my invention, is the improvement of apparatus or machinery for use in connection, with or in relation to deep wells, both water and oil wells, and I illustrate in the drawings, and describe in detail hereinafter, apparatus for that particular purpose, but I do not confine myself to apparatus for that particular purpose beyond the requirements of the meaning or scope of the appended claims. The improvements I have made are of importance in many respects, and in particular in the direction of simplification of mechanism, increase in efficiency, economy of money and labor in operation, and avoidance of periods or intervals of non-use of the apparatus, as such times when the operative apparatus at the bottom of the well must be removed for repairs or sharpening.

My invention consists in whatever is described by or is included within the terms or scopeof the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 1a are a vertical section of an embodiment of my invention for well boring v or drilling;

Fig. 2 is a bottom View thereof; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. la;

Fig. 4l is asimilar section on the line 4-4 of Fig. lar; v

Figs. 5 and 5a are similar to Figs. 1 and la 5 illustrating the use of my invention for pump- 3 in Iig. 6 is a vertical section on a larger scale of a portion of the motor mechanism.

Briefly described, the embodiments of my invention shown in the drawings comprise 0 a motor member and either a drilling' or cutting tool or a pump to be operated by the motor, and the construction and arrangement are such that the motor is situated in the lower part of the boring or well as close as possible to the tool or pump to be operated thereby, and the motor is of the hydraulic type, to which the water or hydraulic liquid is supplied by piping that includes flexible tubing or hose, so that removal and replacement of the apparatus from the well or bor- Serial No. 180,528.

ing isa comparatively simpleand easy and inexpensive job, and it is possible by having at least two sets of tools to continue the boring operation with practically no cessation when occasion arises for removing a tool for sharpening or repair, because a tool in'fit or working condition may be vsubstituted at once for the dull or disabled one, and thus the boring operation continued. i

Since the motor member has the same construction, whether operating with a tool or with a pump, it will be found that the motors illust-rated in Figs. l and 6 are alike in construction, and the same reference characters will be used to designate the corresponding parts thereof.

Proceeding now with a description in de'- tail of'what is shown in the drawings, the motor member includes a vertical hollow cylinder or tube, 10, which has a cap or head, 11, screwed into the upper end thereof, through which extends a section of vertical pipe, 12so that a portion thereof is extended downward within the cylinder and a portion upward above the cap, a comparatively short distance, and to the upper end of the pipe, 12, is coupled the lower end of a hose or iiexible tubing, 13, which extends from the ground surface, and at-its outer end is connected with a suitable source of supply of iuid or liquid pressure, the hose being carried over a drum, 14, shown diagrammatically. To the upper end of the pipe, 12, just below the hose coupling is secured a collar, 15, to which the lower ends of diametrically opposite cables, 16, are attached, by which the apparatus may be lowered into the well or withdrawn therefrom. To the top of the cap, 11, is secured a stutling box, 17, to make a liquid-tight joint about the pipe, 12. The lower end of the pipe, 12, within the cylinder, 10, is closed by a plug, 18, and above the latter, the side walls of the pipe are perforated, as by vertical slots, 19, to allow the flow of the hydraulic liquid from the pipe into the cylinder. The plug, 18, has a stem, 20, which extends downward, upon the lower end of which is mounted a ring or annulus 21, whose outer periphery is bevelled downward and outward, and which forms one member of a valve, whose othermember is a ring or annulus', 22, of an external diameter snugly to lit the interior of the cylinder, 10, and whose inner periphery is bevelled in correspondence with the bevel of the ring, 21', so that when the two rings are in the same or substantially the same plane, the valve is closed. The inner valve ring, 21, rests upon a washer or gasket, 23, to make a packed joint, the gasket being supported by a head, 24, screwed onthe lower end of thestem below the gasket. Preferably a cushion device is placed beneath the inner valve ring, 21, to safeguard the ring from the shockl of the outer ring when descending. Said cushion may be a coil spring, 21a, between the inner valve ring, 21, and a flange on the head, 24. Resting loosely upon the valve ring, 22, is a ring or annulus, 25, of rubber of a diameter snugly to lit the interior of cylinder, 10, to make a liquid-tight joint. Thearea of the ring 25 is less than the area of the cylinder head 11. .The underside of the valvering, 22, rests upon the upper end of a coil spring, 26, whose lower end engages an annular shoulder or abutment, which may be the upper end of a short pipe section, 27, screwed into the lower end of the cylinder, 10, 'or the upper end of a spacer sleeve, 28, within thevcylinder and resting at its lower end upon the pipe sec'tion, 27, such spacer sleeve being removable and interchangeablev with sleeves of different length for use with springs of diferent length and tension.

Under the hydraulic pressure exerted within 10, upon the head or cap there-k the cylinder, of, the cylinder with all parts attached thereto moves upward, and as it moves upward the spring, 26, is compressed until a point is reached when the pressure of the spring is superior to the hydraulic pressure, whereupon the valve ring,22,.which up to that point has remained stationary, moves upward from the inner valve ring, is held in a stationary position, and the upward pressure of the water on the cylinder being removed, the latter will then fall or descend, carrying with-it the parts connected therewith. By reason of the downward and outward inclination of the valve ring cooperating faces, the hydraulic liquid will flow downward and outward and willexert downward pressure on the interior of the cylinder, 10, below the valve, and that downward pressure will thus supplement gravity or the weight of the parts in causing the descent of the cylinder, and all parts connected therewith. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1a. the downward movement of the cylinder is 'utilized to strike a blow upon the cutting tool (presently described) at the bottom, a suitable hammer being provided for the purpose, while in the embodiment of theinvention shown in Fig. 5, the downward movement of the cylinder! isutili'zed in the 21, which f pump operation, as will presently be described. AReferring to Figs. 1 and 1a, the pipe section, 27 at the lower end of the cylinder has screwed into its lower end a tube, 29, to the lower end of which is secured a hammer, 30, and the wall of the tube, 29, is perforated, as by means of slots, 31, to allow the escape of water into a downward 'cylindrical extension, 32, which at its upper end is screwed to the lower end of the pipe section,

27, to the outside thereof,'so that it encloses vbeing attached to the lower en d of the core barrel and being caused to cut by the blow of the hammer, 30. The core barrel is maintained in its concentric position by means of a spider, 37, formed by spaced radial lugs on the anvil, 35, and a spider, 38, formed by radial inwardly projecting lugs, on a ring within the extension, 32. The spiders are employed so that water may flow downward from the cylinder and issue from the annular space between the two cutting tools or bits into the boring, and flowing upward through the well around the cylinders will flush out and carry the fine cuttings to the top of the well. It will be observed that the exterior of the cylinder from cap or head to the cutting tool at the bottom is smooth and free from projections, and thus there is nothing on the exteriorto obstruct the upward How of water issuing at the bottom or to catch on the side walls of the well.

lVhen the core barrel is used the facility with which the apparatus may be removed from the well is of great importance because of the desirability often of repeatedly taking samples of the boring. In that connection it is to be mentioned that the apparatus may be used #in prospecting and other work requiring the obtaining of samples for inspection or analysis.

I prefer to make the cutting faces of the tools or bits in the resemblance of crown gears with the teeth sharpened.

The wall of the core barrel, 34, is perforated as by means of vertical slots, 340, to allow the escape from the interior thereof of sand and small material, for if such escape 'were not provided for, the barrel would be choked and the core could not ascend and form therein. Of course, for simple drilling when no sample is desired, a solid drill will loose filler spiders or shims, 39. By the removal or `diminution in number of theselillers, the level of the inner bit, 36, with reference to the outer bit, may beA regulated.

These fillers or shims willihave slots or holesv at their peripheries for the passage of water.

The slots in the wall of the core barrel will be of dimensions or of capacity according to the kind of material that is being cut, being larger or smaller as the case may be, and an assortment of barrels with slots of diversified area may be provided for interchangeable use. f

Referring to Figs. 5 and 5a which show my invention in an embodiment for pumping the well, of course, it has the customary lining, 40, and to the pipe section, 27, at the lower end of the cylinder and screwed on the eX- terior thereof at its upper end is a vertical tube or pipe, 4l, that takes the place of the tube, 29, Fig. 1, which pipe, 41, has its side walls perforated with slots, 42, and which at its bottom is closed by a plug, 43, having a downward extension or stem, 44, at the lower end of which is a valve ring or annulus, 45, with a. bevelle-d periphery which cooperates with an encircling valve ring or annulus, 46, sldably fitting the interior of a pump barrel, 47, the construction just described beingr a duplicate of the parts, 18, to25, of Fig. 1, and acting in the same manner. At the lower end ofthe pump barrel, 47, is a valved-plug, 48, of usual construction which fits withinthe well casing or liner, 40. Relative movement of the valve rings, 45 and 46, takes place for the alternate opening and closing thereof, and to prevent the vertically movable valve ring, 46, moving too high, a stop pin, 49, is attached` to the stem, 44, at a suitable elevation above such ring. lVhen the motor cylinder ascends oil flows upward through the valved-plug, 48, and when the motor cylinder descends, the valve in plug, 48, closes, and the valve ring, 46, moves upward, thus providing an opening through which the oil flows upward into the well-casing or liner, 40.v

Between the cap or head of the cylinder, 10, and the collar, 15, on the pipe section, 12, is interposed a 'coil spring, 50, that serves as a cushion to save undue force being applied to the valve during the pumping operation.

In pumping an oil well, it is desirableV to use oil for the hydraulic liquid, as it is undesirable to use water because of its possibly deleterious effect on the oil, and the combined oil output fromthe pump will be delivered to a suitable reservoir or receiver, which ciprocations,

while disposing of the surplus will retain enough for use in the hydraulic operation of the apparatus. y

In installing or placing the apparatus for operating in boring or cutting, the tool is let down into the well until the cutting bit rests lightly against the bottom of the hole with enough tension on the lifting cable to support the weight of the mechanism to assure the'seating or closing of the valve rings, 21, and 22, for if they should not be tightly seated, the hydraulic fluid entering the cylinder, 10, would escape from the bottom of the cylinder. The reciprocation of the cylinder can be stopped at will by permitting the opening of the valve to allow the'continuous flow of water, which at times may be desirable for flushing thewell hole more thoroughly than by an intermittent flow between reciprocations. This enables the ready clearing out of clogging from cuttings or when the quantity of cuttings is so great then an ample volume of water is desired to carry them upward through the well.

My apparatus can be used to free itself should it become stuck in the well hole, as by cave-ins. In such a case, by lifting on the supporting cables, so as to clear the bottom of the tool from the bottom of the well, and thus throw the weight on the valve rings, so as to prevent opening thereof on the inflow of water in the cylinder, 10, the upward pres# sure of water in the cylinder 10, on the cap or head, 11, will move the cyylinder upward and force the same through any obstructions that cause it to stick'i the hole.

An important feature of my motor in relation to cutting or,dri`llin'g,/is that the blows struck are the result of rapid butJ short rewhich experience shows is the most advantageous action. On the other hand, however, for pumping where longer strokesare desirable, my apparatus is adapted to that condition.

It will be evident that the motor construc- I tion is such that the same motor may be used at one time for cutting and at another `time for pumping, it being necessary merely to substitute one appliance for the other.

On Figs. 1 and la, the arrows show the course and circulation rows in full lines showing the water up to the point it enters the motor cylinder, and the arrows in dotted lines indicating the course of the water beyond the control Valve, dottedlines being used for these arrows because the control valve is closed so that no flow of water takes place therethrough. In Figs. 5 and 5a, there are arrows in full lines which show the course of the oil kused hy draulically, and the arrows in dotted lines show the course of the ascending stream of oil beginning at the bottom of the well.

Referring back to the action of the motor spring, 26, when the'tension of that .spring` overcomes the downward pressure of the water, the valve ring, 22, is instantly moved upward into the cylinder, and the spring in its expanded state tends to keep it raised from seating engagement with the inner valve ring, 21, during the descent of the cylinder, so that the downward stroke of the cylinder is completed, or substantially completed before the valve is again closed. The use of interchangeable spacer sleeves, such as sleeve, 28, to permit the use of springs of different length and tension is important because it enables variation of the motor stroke to suit required conditions andenables the adaptation of the spring pressure to the hydraulic pressure used in the apparatus .which may differ under varying conditions of operation, as for example, in the deepening of the well, or variation of cutting tools used from time to time.

What I claim is:

1. The combination in a motor of a longitudinally movable cylinder element, a pipe for the supply of fluid under pressure extending into the cylinder element, valve mechanism within the cylinder subject to 4 two parts with fluid pressure in the cylinder and adapted to open under a predetermined pressure comprising two parts with outwardly directed contacting surfaces, one of which is supported by said pipe, said two parts being relatively movable to open and close a passage between them, and means to maintain them in a closed position until a predetermined extent of movement of the cylinder has taken place said cylinder having a pressure-receiving head spaced from said valve mechanism between which and said valve mechanism fluid is received for the exertion of pressure thereon.

2. The combination in a motor of a longitudinally movable cylinder element, a pipe for the supply of fluid under pressure extending into the cylinder element, valve mechanism within the cylinder subject to fluid pressure in the cylinder and adapted to open under a predetermined pressure comprising outwardly directed contacting surfaces, one of-which is supported by said pipe, said two parts being relatively movable to open and close a passage between them and an expansible spring acting on the valve part not supported by said pipe, said cylinder having a pressure-receiving head spaced from said valve mechanism between which and said valve mechanism fluid is received forthe exertion of pressure thereon.

3. The combination in a motor of a longitudinally movable cylinder element, means for introducing fluid under pressure into the cylinder, the cylinder'having a pressure-receiving head acted on by fluid introduced into the cylinder, a normally closed valve mechanism to retain fluid in the cylinder, said valve mechanism being lspaced away from said head and subject to fluid pressure confined between it and the head, the cylinder having a part beyond the opening controlled by the valve with a surface situated toy receive the impact of fluid flowing through such opening the opening being situated to deliver fluid to such surface in the direction of flow of fluid through the opening to the surface.

4. The combination in a motor of a vertical cylinder provided with an internal upwardpressure-receiving surface, a pipe extending from above the cylinder downward into the cylinder in communication with a source of fluid adapted to descend through such pipe into the cylinder, the pipe being perforated to discharge into the cylinder, a valve device comprising a member connected with the pipe and a relatively movable member within the cylinder, a spring below the cylinder member of the valve exerting an upward pressure thereon tending to move said member to open the valve device, a bearing within the cylinder for said spring, means to pass fluid downward from the valve device when opened, the cylinder being moved downward by gravity when the valve device is opened and a suitable tool upon which the power exerted by the cylinder in its downward movement is applied.

5. The combination in a motor of a vertical cylinder provided with an internal upward-pressure-receiving surface, a pipe extending from above the cylinder downward into the cylinder in communication with a source of fluid adapted to descend through such pipe into the cylinder, the pipe being perforated to discharge into the cylinder, a valve device comprising a member connected with the pipe and a relatively movable member within the cylinder, a spring below the cylinder member of the valve exerting an upward pressure thereon tending to move said member to open the valve device, a bearing within the cylinder for said spring, means to pass fluid 'downward from the valve device when opened, the cylinder being moved downward by gravity when the valve device is opened and a suitable tool upon which the power exerted by the cylinder in its downward movement is applied, said means comprising a pipe section joined at its upper end to the lower end of the cylinder and a tube extending from the bottom of the pipe section downward and perforated for the outlet of fluid under pressure.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JAMES F. MELLOR. 

